Antique Vintage Early Banjo With Ebony Fingerboard

This is a nineteenth century 38-bracket banjo, complete with the original dowel stick, 38 nickel plated brass brackets (shoes), brass and steel tension hoop, pristine calfskin head, and an ebony fingerboard on the original neck.   The rim is 11-7/8 inches in diameter with a 10-7/8" head, and 2-3/8 inches deep and has an outer veneer of nickel-plated brass that is 1/2 spun over. Overall length is about 35-1/8".  There is a brass shim between the neck and the rim to help maintain the neck angles.  The non-original vintage screw-adjusted friction  Grover tuning pegs with ivory-colored buttons all work well (replacing the and tapered ebony/ivoroid pegs which were usually found on early banjos).  The fifth string has a traditional Grover screw-adjusted friction tuner with ivory-colored button. There are 38 brass or steel hooks and 38 antique brass nuts which don't all match.  The wood shell is made of maple and covered with black lacquer on the inside.  The neck and dowel are made of American Black Walnut and have an original finish and a thin ebony headstock overlay.  The boat-shaped neck heel has two screws into it that hold the rim tight to the neck. The scale length is about 25-1/4 inches; many players find this shorter scale easier to play while still being in standard tunings.  The strings are a bit off center at the treble end of the neck but well within the fretboard. The straight neck retains its original angle which is about in the same plane as the banjo head, so with a 1/2" bridge the strings will feel high to players who are used to modern banjos.  The frets show a small amount of wear; the banjo was initially strung with gut strings which cause far less wear than steel strings. The headstock has a simple shape that has been copied by modern banjo builders such as Pisgah, Rickard, and Enoch, but you can own this original.  The tailpiece is an antiqued brass No-Knot.  There is an old headstock nut and a bone 5th string nut (pip).  The strings are classic Aquila Nylgut Minstrel Strings, and the Maple Grover brand "no-tip" bridge is a classic.  I have made a brief video to demonstrate the tone and playability of the banjo.  

I will ship the banjo in a padded sturdy carton with the bridge taken down and the strings loosened.  The cost of insured shipping will be a flat rate of $50.00 for the contiguous 48 states and actual cost elsewhere; please inquire for a shipping cost estimate if you'd like to know in advance of bidding.  Local pickup is free if the banjo has already been paid for via PayPal. I have tried to give an accurate and detailed description; I will be pleased to answer any question you have about the listing. Thank you for reading the entire description.